Question for November 2004

Did the Aztecs have kings and queens? Asked by Woodville Primary School. Chosen and answered by Dr. Elizabeth Baquedano.

A list of Aztec rulers with their name glyphs and approximate dates (from Elizabeth Baquedano’s book ‘Aztec Sculpture’, British Museum Publications, 1984) (Click on image to enlarge)

Yes, the Aztecs had kings and queens. There were nine kings. The king was known as Tlahtoani which means ‘He who Speaks’ in Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs.

The nine kings were:-ACAMAPICHTLI (meaning”Handful of Reeds”)HUITZILIHUITL (“Hummingbird Feather”)CHIMALPOPOCA (“Smoking Shield”)ITZCOATL (“Obsidian Serpent”)MOTECUHZOMA (“Angry Lord”)AXAYACATL (“Face of Water”)TIZOC (“The Bled One”)AHUITZOTL (a mythical water opossum)MOTECUHZOMA XOCOYOTZIN or MOTECUHZOMA THE YOUNGER (he was the ruling king when Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico)/li/olpAfter the death of Motecuhzoma the Younger two other people ruled Tenochtitlan but they were not crowned as kings. They were Cuitlahuac and Cuauhtemoc respectively.

Women played major roles in the founding of Tenochtitlan. One of them called Atotoztli (“Water-Bird”) became a queen and Ilancueitl (“Old Woman Skirt”) was the wife of the first Aztec king. Women were very important for the institution of kingship at Tenochtitlan.

Dr. Elizabeth Baquedano has answered 2 questions altogether:

4 At 5.58am on Thursday June 7 2018, Amy wrote:

I know this may sound very much so like I’m a nut case, but there is good reason for it but how would I be able to find out if there is a way if I am the Aztec queen Aztotzli (may have spelled that wrong) but yeah!!!

Mexicolore replies: Go for it! Call yourself Queen Atotoztli, if it makes you feel good! If you are, your son became the first Aztec emperor!

3 At 1.08pm on Wednesday January 21 2015, laila wrote:

what about their lives

Mexicolore replies: Big question. What about their lives? What would you like to know...?!

2 At 11.00pm on Friday March 9 2012, Zoe wrote:

tIzoc means chalk leg not the bled one.

Mexicolore replies: Whilst his name does have ‘chalk’ at its root, some interpret his name glyph as a scarred leg - ie ‘He who does penance’. See, for instance, the Moctezuma exhibition catalogue at the British Museum.